Multiple-collision accelerator assembly

Abstract

A device comprising several highly elastic objects is presented whose purpose is to demonstrate an unobvious consequence of fundamental laws of physics--the acceleration of an object to high speed by multiple collisions among a series of heavier objects moving at slower speed. The objects, each of different mass, are arrayed in close proximity in order of decreasing mass with their centers lying along a straight line. This arrangement of the assembly of objects is maintained by a constraining element which permits the assembly axis to be oriented in any desired direction and permits the assembly to be moved or manipulated as a unit in any desired way without destroying the arrangement of objects. In the preferred embodiment the elastic objects are polybutadiene balls (12), the constraining element is an interior guide-pin (10) fastened in the largest ball and extending radially therefrom, on which the remaining balls can slide freely because of diametrical holes formed in them. In use this multiple-collision accelerator assembly is suspended in vertical orientation, with the largest ball downward, by holding the tip-end of the guide-pin which extends beyond the littlest ball. The assembly is then dropped onto a solid surface (14), the striking of which produces a sharp impulse that is transmitted from the largest ball, through the assembly, causing the littlest ball to be projected to a height many times that from which the assembly was dropped.

We claim: 
     
       1. A multiple-collision accelerator assembly comprising a series of at least three objects of highly elastic material, each of a different mass, said objects being in contact with each other or in close proximity with their centers of mass arrayed in a straight line, the heaviest object at one end of the line of centers, said heaviest object having an arcuate surface defining an end portion of said assembly, the least heavy object at the other end of the line of centers with the masses decreasing monotonically from the heaviest object to the least heavy object, the arrangement of said assembly being maintained by a constraining element consisting of a guide-pin fixedly attached within the heaviest object, passing through holes in the remaining objects, which are freely slidable on said guide-pin, and extending a substantial distance beyond the least heavy of said objects. 
     
     
       2. A multiple-collision accelerator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said highly elastic objects are substantially spherically shaped. 
     
     
       3. A multiple-collision accelerator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said guide-pin is a straight cylindrical rod of small diameter fixedly attached within the heaviest of said objects and extending outward from said heaviest object along a radius of aid heaviest object. 
     
     
       4. A multiple-collision accelerator assembly according to claim 2 wherein each of said highly elastic objects except the heaviest has a hole extending fully along its diameter, said hole having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said guide-pin. 
     
     
       5. A multiple-collision accelerator assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said highly elastic objects except the heaviest said object is freely slidable on said guide-pin. 
     
     
       6. A multiple-collision accelerator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said guide-pin extends substantially beyond the least heavy of said highly elastic objects when all of said highly elastic objects are aligned upon said guide-pin, each in contact with an adjacent object. 
     
     
       7. A multiple-collision accelerator assembly comprising three or more highly elastic balls, all of different mass, within the heaviest of which is fixedly attached a guide-pin that extends radially outward from the heaviest ball and upon which the remaining balls are aligned in order of decreasing mass by virtue of a hole along a diameter of each ball, said guide-pin, when all of said remaining balls are aligned upon it an din contact with each other, extending substantially beyond the least heavy ball to provide a gripping area that can be held by finger tips to support said assembly in a vertically hanging orientation with said heaviest ball in the bottom position and said least heavy ball in the top position, and wherein upon said assembly's achieving said vertical orientation, said gripping area is released allowing said assembly to fall freely under the force of gravity and to impact the ground or floor, said impact causing the top ball to rebound upward off the guide-pin with a velocity of magnitude greater than that of said impact of said assembly with the ground or floor.